Well, it was a horrible and shamefull cursed way to die - not a pretty sight and very very painful. It was used as a torture to extract the most pain, shame and punishment from a victim.
It was part of the Old Testament law:
Deu. 21:22 And if a man have committed a sin worthy of death, and he be to be put to death, and thou hang him on a tree:
23 His body shall not remain all night upon the tree, but thou shalt in any wise bury him that day; (for he that is hanged is accursed of God; ) that thy land be not defiled, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance.
Jesus bore our shame and penalty upon the cross for us as men. God came in the manifestation of man, identifying Himself as a man and lived a perfect life, not having a man for a father, but the Holy Ghost. It was by means of the miracle of the virgin birth that Jesus did not inherit the nature of sin and death. After living and giving His testimony, pleasing the Father and doing His will, He gave His perfect life for our lives of sin - once and for all.
Isaiah 53:1 Who has believed our message? To whom will the LORD reveal his saving power?
2 My servant grew up in the LORDs presence like a tender green shoot, sprouting from a root in dry and sterile ground. There was nothing beautiful or majestic about his appearance, nothing to attract us to him.
3 He was despised and rejecteda man of sorrows, acquainted with bitterest grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way when he went by. He was despised, and we did not care.
4 ¶ Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God for his own sins!
5 But he was wounded and crushed for our sins. He was beaten that we might have peace. He was whipped, and we were healed!
6 All of us have strayed away like sheep. We have left Gods paths to follow our own. Yet the LORD laid on him the guilt and sins of us all.
7 He was oppressed and treated harshly, yet he never said a word. He was led as a lamb to the slaughter. And as a sheep is silent before the shearers, he did not open his mouth.
8 From prison and trial they led him away to his death. But who among the people realized that he was dying for their sinsthat he was suffering their punishment?
9 He had done no wrong, and he never deceived anyone. But he was buried like a criminal; he was put in a rich mans grave.
10 ¶ But it was the LORDs good plan to crush him and fill him with grief. Yet when his life is made an offering for sin, he will have a multitude of children, many heirs. He will enjoy a long life, and the LORDs plan will prosper in his hands.
11 When he sees all that is accomplished by his anguish, he will be satisfied. And because of what he has experienced, my righteous servant will make it possible for many to be counted righteous, for he will bear all their sins.
12 I will give him the honors of one who is mighty and great, because he exposed himself to death. He was counted among those who were sinners. He bore the sins of many and interceded for sinners.
